Former Clemson head coach Danny Ford in inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honer during pre-game of the Clemson Georgia game Saturday, August 31, 2013 at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff Bart Boatwright / Staff

“I’ve said many times that I think the Clemson-Georgia rivalry is one of the best rivalries in college football,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “It’s one I watched way before I even came to Clemson. I think it’s great for both fan bases. It will be one of those games that everybody will enjoy. Obviously it’s a tough opener for both teams, but it’s fun to be a part of games like that.”

Clemson is ranked No. 2 entering the 2018 season while Georgia is No. 3. Both programs advanced to the College Football Playoff last season with the Tigers losing to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl semifinal. The Bulldogs advanced to the National Championship Game against Alabama and lost in overtime, 26-23.

Clemson has reached the playoff for three consecutive years and won the second national title in program history in 2016 by defeating Alabama, 35-31.

The 2024 game will mark Clemson’s third appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game; the Tigers defeated Auburn 26-29 in the 2012 game and lost to Alabama in the 2008 game, 34-10.

“To play a great opponent like the University of Georgia in a first-class venue like Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be an outstanding experience for our football team and fans,” Clemson Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “The resumption of our storied rivalry with Georgia has been a high priority for us and will continue to be a high priority moving forward.”

It also continues Clemson’s recent trend of playing high-profile opponents from the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers played Auburn in 2016 and 2017, will play Texas A&M this year and in 2019 and recently added LSU to the schedule in 2025 and 2026.